Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-07-02
A BOLD DASH FOR LIBERTY.
jail Birds Of Biackfeet Leave their Cage
sHd Fly away. Their Hasty FEIght,
Quick Pursuit and Re-capture.

4 @mo Ely 1Ways AhctE MAbty EhBat5
Quick Pursuit and Re-capture.
One of the most successfully plan
ed methods ever conceived and car
ried into execution for fail delivery
was the one which gave temporary
liberty 10 the inmates Of the Blackfoot
Jail last Sunday afternoon. The most
notorious characters in the Jail were
Frank Williams and Alex. Woods,
murderers, both under sentence to be
hanged July 20, and Harrington and
Nickerson, indicted for horsestealing
and awaiting trial at the next term of
the court. Williams is a cold, delib-
crate murderer and Harrington is no
stranger to the officers of this county,
having more than one time held them
at bay with his repeating guns; these
two were the prime movers and lead
ers in the plans and escape.
Sunday afternoon at 81 o'clock
while the citizens Of town were enjoy
ing the rest of the holy Sabbath and
the little ones were at the Sabbath
Schools the plans were put into exc
cution, and between 6 and o'clock
the prisoners walked down the east
steps OF the court house and made their
bold dash for liberty. For week or
more the brother and the wife Of
Nickerson, who came down from their
home in the Teton country, had been
camping in the southern part of town.
This Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Nicker-
son with her little infant in her arms,
called at the sherifrs Office TO see the
husband and father. Bill High, one
of the regular guards, was on duty.
In compliance with the woman's re-
quest High went down into the Jail
and brought up the husband and IA
ther that he might have @ short inter-
view with his wife. Returning Nick
erson was given seat by the side of
his wife and child and High resumed
his seat at the desk, in the drawers of
which were three loaded pistols. Nick
erson and wife were delighted at meet
ing again and he was lavish ia fond
ling the baby as il lay in its mothers
lap. High heard every word spoken
by them and saw every movement.
Everything was moving on pleasantly
and the time was drawing to the close
OF the interview when High lowered
his head TO relieve his mouth Of q
. quid Of tobacco and ON looking up
again was shown by Nickerson the
: persuasive muzzle Of a five shooter
with the command, "hands up and
! move over there" meaning away from
, the desk where his pistol was, and
: next to the door leading down to the
| cells. Bill was rather slow in his
movements and Nickerson repeated
I his command and in q tone that con
/ vinced him he meant business. Obey
! ing, Bill took his stand at the door
and Nickerson approached the desk
opened the drawer and took the keys
, and threw them TO Bill and ordered
| him down to the Jail and made him
: open the door. The pistol was then
given to Williams and all the prison
crs marched up and took possession oi
the sherif-s Office while Bill was left
, below. Soon afterward Janitor Viii
; liams strolled in the Office to pass q
! word with the boys when he was con.
frontcd with the same persuasive
; weapons and "hands up" and before
he could take in the situation was sent
/. to play company for High Deputy
: Hays next came in to make arrange
; ments for the prisoners dinner, and NJ
! he entered the door Harrington held
him up with two in hand and ordered
him to the regions below. Bob had
i been boss and he had not learned tc
: obey quickly but when Williams, the
! murderer, placed the cold steel be
hind his ear and said, "move ON Bob
I this is my only chance and no DR.
] foolishness," Bob moved on and wen
! down to see High and Williams
= Treasurer Bunting about this tim,
! strolled into the court house and no
1 finding Auditor Robethan in the com
|. missioner's Office, walked into th'
9 sherifrs Office right into the face of I
k frowning battery and was assigned |
i ''posish" TO one side. Mr.. Dincen, on
n of the guards, next leisurely came Il
& and 10 his surprise, saw the same bat
: terry that frowned in the face OF MI
!. Bunting. Mr. Bunting and Mr.. Di
neen were then sent below and th
masters of the situation awaite,
e results. John Schuyler, bailiff of th
|; late court, was the next visitor and d
his surprise found the sheritfs ofiic
e In new hands and affairs under nes
d regime, John went below too. b,
e this time IL was nearly o'clock an,
a Williams went below, locked the pris
8 oners In the cells, bade them saieU
y pocketed the keys and returned ul
+ stairs and led the way 10 the opel
} air and TO the horses in waiting
mounting, Williams, Harrington ans
Nickerson dashed off at brisk gallo
q northward along Second street an'
+ was soon lost to sight on the Eagl
e Rock road. Woods, the negro, tod
It died away like a big grizzly SOUTHWARK
Il towards Blackfoot river and was tn
r first OF the LOT recapturcd after pun
b suit began. Rev. Mr.. Stuart, Record
n - R1t,oAhm. ava Azx Wtnas,,, ....,w.a 81,